Interview Tips

You have written a great resume and cover letter and now you are heading for the interview. Preparation for the interview is equally important as for the cover letter. Find out as much as possible about the company, its history, visions and values – all that you can find.

Before the interview, you should also find out what kind of dress code that prevails in the company, which is not always so easy. If you cannot read it from the company’s website, it is best to be just enough dressed up. Not in full suite with tie/tie-blouse, nor in jeans.

Additional things to consider before the interview:

Be there ahead of time. Bring a notebook and a copy of your CV.

Do not expect that the person you meet will have read your resume. It may be the HR department who have sent your application further, or that someone has tipped off about you and attached your resume.

Be well-read and ask about the company and the future. Even if you already know the answer, all people enjoy talking about themselves and their work. If the interviewer feels that you are well-read and evaluate the answers given, the entire interview will have more of a professional sound.

Respond correctly to the questions. If there are parts of your story that you find difficult to talk about, keep it correct but briefly. Show that you have chosen your path through life and do not make something in your story bigger than what it is.

Explain in the interview why you think you would be perfect for the job without being too forceful. It is not easy, but again, refer to your information on the company and weave together with your background. Listen carefully and if you do not find the answer to a question immediately – take it easy and think it through. The interviewer will wait.

Towards the end of the interview you can ask what will happen next and when you can expect a reply. If the interviewer gives you an approximate timeframe you can reply that you will get back to him/her after that. Then the full responsibility does not lie on the interviewer and the company, and at the same time you get an OK that you can call.

After the interview you may send an email and thank for a nice meeting and confirm again that you will be in-touch by the agreed timeframe. Have not you heard anything after the given time, call or send an email.